Wou] AND SYMBOLS. 403 



spring in the opening years of the present century, occurring 

 very late, the woodpecker (of Wilson) wisely made his nest two 

 weeks later. We might multiply instances to show the wisdom 

 which they display, but it would be quite unnecessary, because 

 the foregoing facts are sufficient to illustrate it. In reflecting 

 upon the whole question, one is surprised at the disparity which 

 there is between innate worldly wisdom in birds and men. The 

 bird knows where to go, and what to do, in order to make its 

 existence pleasant. Man does not seem to manage nearly so 

 well ; and his efforts are constantly attended with defeat and 

 misery. If, after protracted experience, he does succeed in 

 obtaining the material comforts which the bird gets without any 

 purchased experience, he is congratulated on being a clever man. 

 It would seem that, in those exceptional cases where men have 

 acquired worldly advantage very easily, they have been endowed 

 by Nature with worldly wisdom in the way in which the birds 

 have been endowed with it. There is no more credit due to 

 them than there is to the birds. Both equally are indebted to 

 Nature for guiding them to prosperous journeys and suitable 

 habitations. But why have all the birds been so well endowed 

 with the gift of worldly wisdom, and why have so few men ? 

 There is an enigma. The answer may be that the development 

 of men's faculties is the object intended to be attained by the 

 arrangement. Who can say ? T. B. : ST. 



Attacking the Wounded. 



Caprice, habit, or inclination, permits some men to attack 

 even the depressed, dejected, and wounded in spirit. What more 

 abominable spectacle is there than that of a man attacking his 

 less fortunate fellow 1 Such a person is like the chimachima 

 (Milvago chimachima) , a species of falconidae which attacks beasts 

 of burden upon which it perceives wounds or sores ; these it tears 

 with its bill until the unfortunate victim is forced to roll him- 

 self upon the ground to get rid of his tormentor. We judge 

 this to be cruel ; but the other sight is still worse. MU. 



